The Novotel Queenstown Lakeside hotel has been recognised with a commercial architecture award for its "stylish, contemporary design".
Designed by Dalman Architecture, the project has been awarded a New Zealand Institute of Architectures (NZIA) Southern Architecture Award, in the commercial category.
The award for the project was presented on November 21 at an awards ceremony in the Dunedin Museum, and the project may now be considered for a New Zealand Architecture Award next year.
Queenstown's Rilean Construction has already been recognised for its work on the $13 million, 16-month refurbishment of the Novotel, having won the Southern Tourism and Leisure Project Gold Award and Regional Supreme Commercial Award in June.
Rilean is now a finalist in the National Registered Master Builders House of the Year and Commercial Project Awards, which will be announced on November 28 at a gala function at the SkyCity Convention Centre in Auckland.
Novotel Queenstown Lakeside general manager Jim Moore said he was delighted for Dalman Architecture and the win was well deserved.
"We've had lots of great feedback about the hotel design so I'm delighted that both Dalman Architecture and Rilean Construction have been recognised by their peers for the skill and effort that went into the project."
Dalman Architecture project architect Jim McKie said the company was "thrilled".
"It's an honour to have our work rewarded by the industry, especially locally, and to be a possible finalist for the New Zealand Architecture Awards.
"The project was complex and challenging. But we have a great team at Dalman Architecture, and together we developed a holistic solution which works well.
"In particular, Shona Henderson and Karl Day did a remarkable job documenting the project. Coffey Projects and the other project consultants deserve recognition for their role in the success of the project, as well."
Mr McKie said the Novotel staff also deserved recognition, particularly Carl Braddock, the general manager at the time, who worked hard to keep the hotel running smoothly during the building process.
"Rilean also did an amazing job within a tight timeframe, and worked effectively to mitigate issues like the project staging and limited site access," Mr McKie said.
Dalman Architecture's brief was to turn the hotel, with its unique post-modern facade featuring distinctive curved parapets and trellis work, into a contemporary, stylish resort.
Initially, the company was only to do a feasibility study for adding a new floor of rooms, but the brief grew to encompass architectural design for the new floor, lifts and stairs; and interior design for the reception area, foyer, bar and restaurant.
As the hotel was an older building, built to older building codes, Dalman Architecture needed to design the new floor of rooms in timber, presenting a challenge to keep the building watertight during construction, and making acoustic design between floors a major issue.
Stone columns were added to clearly define the base, middle and top of the facade. Sunshades were added to the top of the hotel, and a glass balustrade was put in.
These items were functional, but also provided texture, variety and interest from a street level. The main entrance is now more distinctive. Three lanterns soften the height of the lifts and provide markers at night for visitors.
The restaurant upgrade was to provide seating for an additional 66 patrons, and expose the restaurant dining experience to the public.
This was achieved by pushing the extension towards the street. The slatted timber in the new mezzanine area provides warmth and acoustic control.
The slick new bar is atrium gallery style, and opens out on to Novotel's award-winning garden courtyard.
Dalman Architecture continues to build a reputation in designing challenging and high-profile commercial projects in the southern region.
Projects in Queenstown include five new apartments on Queenstown Hill.
